Your Boxes Have Value
If your business receives shipments regularly, you accumulate used boxes. Most businesses break them down and toss them in the recycling dumpster without a second thought. But those boxes are worth significantly more intact than baled.
What Boxes Are Worth Buying
Not every box has resale value. Buyers like Portland Boxes look for:
- Structurally sound — Walls intact, corners not crushed, flaps functional.
- Clean and dry — No food contamination, water damage, or chemical exposure.
- Standard sizes — Common shipping sizes sell faster than oddball dimensions.
- Minimal printing — Unprinted boxes command higher prices than heavily printed ones.
Even boxes that do not meet all criteria may still be sellable at a lower grade. It costs nothing to ask for a quote.
How to Prepare Your Boxes
1. Keep them flat — Break boxes down gently without tearing flaps. Stack them neatly by size.
2. Remove tape and labels where easy — You do not need to make them pristine, but removing loose tape and peelable labels improves grading.
3. Sort by size — Group similar sizes together. This speeds up the buyer's inspection and may get you a better price.
4. Keep them dry — Store indoors or under cover. Wet boxes lose all resale value.
Getting a Quote
Contact Portland Boxes with the following information: approximate quantity, general size range (small, medium, large, gaylord), current condition, and how often you generate surplus boxes.
We provide quotes within 24 hours and offer free pickup for quantities of 50+ boxes or one pallet within the Portland metro area.
What to Expect
Pricing depends on size, grade, and market conditions. As a rough guide: Grade A boxes in popular sizes command $0.25-1.00 each. Grade B/C boxes range from $0.10-0.50. Gaylord boxes are worth $2-8 each depending on condition and wall type.
It is not retirement money, but for a business generating 100+ boxes per month, it is $500-2,000+ per year that you were previously throwing away.